Kochi, Jan 16: Kicking up a debate, an influential Catholic Church in Kerala has said "Love Jihad is a reality" and alleged that scores of women from Christian community from the southern state were being lured into the trap of Islamic State and used in terror activities.
The synod of Syro-Malabar Church, an apex body of Catholic Bishops chaired by Cardinal George Alencherry, also accused the state police of not viewing the matter cautiously and taking timely action in 'Love Jihad' cases.
Denying the charges, the Popular Front of India (PFI) questioned the "timing" of the statement and urged the Church to withdraw it immediately "as it would only help create division amid growing unity among various sections of society against Hindutva Fascism."
The Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) welcomed the Church statement and called for a united fight against 'Love Jihad' in Kerala Society.
An official of the Kerala State Women's Commission refused to comment, considering the sensitivity involved in the matter.
There was no immediate reaction from the police and government as well.
"There are circumstances in which Christian girls are killed in the name of Love Jihad in Kerala," the Synod has alleged in a statement issued through Syro-Malabar Media Commission here on Tuesday night, referring to the attacks against Christians across the world.
The Synod has termed as "shocking" the killing of Christians in Nigeria on Christmas day.
It is a matter of concern that Love Jihad is gaining grounds in Kerala putting in danger its social peace and communal harmony, the Synod said.
"It is a reality that 'Love Jihad' is happening in Kerala in a planned manner targeting Christian girls," it said.
The Synod, referring to a police record, said out of 21 people who were recruited into Islamic State terror outfit, half of them were converted from Christian faith and it should be an eye opener for the community.
Noting that unofficial accounts say many girls were being used in terror activities through Love Jihad, the Synod said it was a serious matter and such accounts state that Love Jihad is not only "in the imagination".
The Synod, however, said it was not assessing the 'Love Jihad' as an issue affecting the friendship between religions and urged the government to treat it as one related to law and order and not as a religious matter.
The Church demanded speedy action against the culprits involved in the 'Love Jihad.'
It also called for efforts to sensitise parents and children about the dangers of Love Jihad.
The PFI, often being accused of playing key roles in alleged 'Love Jihad' cases in Kerala, claimed that the state police, after conducting a thorough probe, had earlier submitted a report in the Kerala High Court, stating that there was no cases of 'Love Jihad' in the state.
"The Church is raising such a baseless allegation at a time when the minorities including Muslims and Christians and the people of Hindu community are in a joint fight against the Fascist government at the Centre.
Their untimely statement would only help divert the people's attention from the key issues that society is facing at present", PFI State President Naziruddin Elamaram told PTI.
Urging the Bishops to immediately withdraw the statement, he said, "I don't know what is their interest in making such a statement at this juncture."
Not a single Muslim community is holding 'Love Jihad' to increase the number of Muslims here, Elamaram claimed.
He, however, said there were instance of inter-religious marriages in Kerala in which Muslim girls marrying Hindu and Christian boys and Hindu and Christian girls selecting partners from the religions of their choice.
Such marriages cannot be termed as 'Love Jihad', he said.
Asked about the Bishops' allegations that Christian girls are targeted and recruited to Islamic State terror outift, the PFI leader said not a single Muslim organisation in India have recognised the Islamic State and such recruitments should not be seen as part of a 'jihad' as doubts prevail in minds on who created the IS.
Former president of the VHP, SJR Kumar claimed that 'Love Jihad' exists in Kerala society.
He alleged that there were centres in Kerala to "convert Hindu and Christian girls who are being lured into the trap of love by youths with criminal backgrounds".
"We have brought this issue into the attention of the Kerala society much earlier. But nobody listened to us.
Now, we are happy that the Bishops have realised the threat of Love Jihad. It is the time of a joint fight against this menace," Kumar told PTI.
He also alleged that Muslim men trap Hindu and Christian women into marriage and forcing them to convert to Islam.
"The converted Hindu and Christian girls are being used in drug trafficking and terrorism," Kumar said.
Comments
All these because of lacking of knowledge of fundamentals of Islam.
Islam is perfectly taught with boundaries for what to be done and what not to be done.
What to be done are : Farz, or obligatory deeds
What may be done : N compulsion, but doing can lead for extra reward
Not to be done Prohibitions : These should not be done. Like Associating someone with the True God who created us who only deserves to be worshipped. This is a biggest crime in Islamic point of view. Other prohibitions are eating pork, liquors, adultery, gambling,
Now the things what happening mostly in Dargah are worshipping the graves, which is the biggest crime. This is forbidden to both men and women. People can visit the dargah and pray for the dead people in that grave. But begging the dead there is prohibited.
Really those dead bodies can not help us, in contrary those bodies need prayers, wishes of living people.
We can visit the dargah in the intention to pray for the dead in the grave and to say Salam. Doing like this properly is not sin.
Wrongly Visiting Dargah can mislead to sin,
And not visiting Dargah does not amount to sin.
Therefore people lack basic teaching of Islam.
A MUSLIMAH ( True Muslim Women) will never ask with any other creation EXCEPT ALLAH... Those who depend on other than ALLAH will get what they want but in the end they will fall for the trap of deceivers who are attracting the people who are WEAK in IMAN to their way of worshiping the graves or asking with the graves.
THOSE who have faith in ALLAH will never ask or depend on, other than ALLAH. They are Satisfied with what ALLAH gave and Say ALHAMDULLILLAH in whatever situation comes their way... Congrats to such MUSLIMS and MUSlIMAH who trust ALLAH and follow the teaching of Prophet Muhammad pbuh... who never showed us Such CULTURE of DARGAH ViSIT..
Prophet MUHAMMED pbuh said... Visit GRAVES to Pray for the one who is in the GRAVE & REMEMBER that one day our fate will be same. So dont live in this life in ARROGANT or do injustice to Others.
Dear Sahil, if they knows the meaning of Namaz or Salah they never visit Dargah. Here may be RSS behind such kind of demands.
These so called muslim women don't know Islam. so they are asking entry to Dargah/Grave yard. Who stop them to go there go and enjoy.CD Editor please remove Muslim woman tag because muslim women never ask such kind of demands.Better tag Ahle biddah women ask entry to darga.
They dont bother about namaz..but worried about entry to do shirq
Haha..funny..they dont bother about performing namaz..
But worried about entry to dargah to do shirq..
Dear CD team. Please be careful when you posting one sided opinion about practice of Islam. You have reader from all sections.
REALLY SURPRISED TO SEEE THESE MUSLIM LADIES IN ROAD PROTESTING FOR ENTERING THE DARGAH ,
FIRST THEY HAVE TO OFFER NAMAZ PERFECTLY I DONT KNOW WHAT THEY WILL GET IN DARGAH ....
THEY JUST VISIT TO ASK TO THEM.. THATS NOT GOOD WE HAVE TO ASK WITH ALLAH HE IS OUR ALL MIGHTY ..
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